BRCA1 and BRCA2 and Prostate Cancer

Men who develop prostate cancer are at increased risk for having an aggressive cancer if they carry either the mutated BRCA2 gene or the BRCA1-185delAG mutation according to a recent study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

The mutations did not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer but did increase the risk that the tumors would be aggressive as defined by a Gleason score of 7 or more.

The data showed that patients with aggressive tumors were 3.2 times more likely to carry the BRCA2 mutation. The data also showed that patients who carried the BRCA1-185delAG gene mutation were also at increased for having an aggressive prostate cancer.

All the participants in the study were of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

The results did not seem to suggest that routine genetic testing of prostate cancer patients for these gene mutations would be of benefit because of the low prevalence of these gene mutations in the general public.

However, the results may be of interest to men of Ashkenazi Jewish descent as the prevalence is higher in that population group. Determining the aggressiveness of prostate cancer may help decide which therapy is most appropriate.